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Following is the transcript of the media session (English portion) by the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology (Designate), Mr Henry Tang Ying-yen, at the Central Government Offices today (June 24):

Reporter: For your scope of duty, what are the most important issues at hand?

Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology (Designate): I think the priority must be the economy and employment opportunities. And I believe those would be the two primary goals, the fundamentals which we will need to address.

Reporter: What will you be doing now?

Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology (Designate): I will hire one more driver. No, actually, it's very hard for me to go into the substantive issue today. Because I have not got an opportunity to understand my portfolio and to learn more about it yet. However, after I have had the chance to really go through the portfolio and speak with the various organizations as well as people, I will have better idea on what is the best way forward.

Reporter: ...

Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology (Designate): If you are asking me whether it will be the blind leading the blind, it won't. It will be a case of, I will need time to familiarize myself with the portfolio, to understand some of the underlines, as well as to seek more advice from various organizations as well as community in general. So I will not decide on policy objectives without thoroughly understanding the issues first.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion)

End/Monday, June 24, 2002

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